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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Creating a ‘Wow’ Shopping Experience
While rare at retail, a “WOW” shopping experience generates four times the word-of-mouth than a problem experience, according a survey from Verde Group and Wharton. The survey showed that customers…
Supply Chain Digest: New U.S. Program Aims to Help Chinese Factories Reduce Pollution and Carbon Emissions
A relatively new U.S.-backed program aimed at reducing pollution and carbon emissions by factories in China and other parts of the globe has many Western companies looking to help get…
Circuit City Proves Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
When Circuit City made the decision last March to lay off 3,400 of its most experienced sales associates because they were making too much money, many people believed the move…
NRF Afterthoughts: Holistic IT
One of the most interesting discussions BrainTrust Panelist Bill Bittner had at this week’s NRF show was with Steve Earl, Director of Product Marketing for Kronos. As technology companies have…
Out-of-Stocks Cost Retailers $93 Billion
A new study from RIS News and IHL Group concludes retailers are losing $93 billion in sales annually as a result of being out-of-stock on the products consumers are looking…
Spotting the Impulse Buyer
A study from the University of New Hampshire revealed that shoppers who exhibit distinct cognitive skills are more apt to be impulse buyers, and suggests that salespeople can be trained…
Customer Service Tops NRF Agenda
When it comes to customer service in the U.S., no one does it better than L.L. Bean. That is the conclusion of the third annual National Retail Federation/American Express Customer…
Converse Turns 100
Converse, which turns 100 this year, has certainly lived many lives. Launching as a canvas basketball shoe back in 1908, its white tops grew to dominate the sport from the…
Kroger and P&G in Digital Coupon Test
Kroger and Procter & Gamble are involved in a test to deliver coupon savings to consumers sans the paper. Shoppers at the grocery chain can select coupons from offers on…
Satisfied Workers Generate Greater Returns
Some companies may be slow to recognize it, but the value of employees continues to go up and, according to Wharton finance professor Alex Edmands, businesses that do the best…
Consumers Exert Control and Stop Spending
Wendy Liebmann, chief executive of WSL Strategic Retail, describes the economic scene as being in a state of “anarchy” and retailing is no longer immune from its deleterious affect. Do…
Wal-Mart’s ‘Marketside’ Versus Tesco’s Fresh & Easy
Lee Scott has always maintained that Asda was outmaneuvered by Tesco’s convenience format in the U.K. and apparently he’s not willing to let the same thing happen in the U.S…
NRF: Designing the Anti-Web Store
A visit to the NRF Design Studio at the association’s annual convention and expo in New York City reveals that many of retail’s freshest design ideas are being inspired by…
Tesco Encourages Convenient Dieting
In an effort to encourage customers to spend their dieting dollars (or to lose bodily and monetary pounds as may be more relevant in the UK) on Tesco products, the…
Salespeople Get a Bad Rap
A survey of 2,700 corporate buyers worldwide found that 41 percent rated the quality of the sales professionals as “fair” to “poor,” with some describing salespeople as “charm school graduates,”…
Retail TouchPoints: Keeping Your Ear Tuned to the Voice of the Customer
Despite the hypercompetitive marketplace in retail and the presence of more analytical tools than ever before, there are very few radical changes in the retail business. But in fact, one…
Fast Organic Food
Fast food is taking on a decidedly healthier and pricier persona with the growing number of cafes and restaurants popping up around the country that are serving sandwiches, salads and…
R&FF Retailer: Can You Be ‘Too Just-in-Time?’
The good news: New technology allows third party logistics (3PL) providers to be incredibly efficient. The bad news: potentially not enough docks, or hours in the day. What do you…
Ulrich Retiring, Steinhafel Taking Over at Target
Target Corp. announced yesterday that CEO Bob Ulrich is retiring from the company and that his longtime lieutenant Gregg Steinhafel would be taking over at the helm of the retailer…
Consumers Question Retailers’ Claims to be ‘Green’
A new study of U.K. consumers finds many are skeptical of the green claims made by retailers. Closer to home, another report suggests that 2008 will become the year when…
Health Food Safety Tested on Animals
Mixing messages, scoring an own goal and shooting oneself in the foot are all clichés that spring to mind when considering the wisdom of manufacturers who think testing new health…
